For football purists, today marks the dawn of a new era. The days of inadequate football programming during the off-season are a thing of the past as a 24-hour network, devoted entirely to the pigskin, kicks off tonight with a “soft launch” of its programming lineup.
The Football Network, based out of Baton Rouge, is the first network to specialize in just football coverage. Division II college football, the Canadian Football League, high school football and NFL programming will be among the network’s more prominent items.
The network’s “soft launch” means it will air only on the weekends. Once the regular launch occurs in November it will be broadcast 24 hours a day.
Ray Katz, TFN senior marketing vice president, said the choice to pick Baton Rouge as the home for TFN was easy.
“The state put together a great deal with us,” Katz said. “Plus the people here love the game, and it is a football crazy place.”
The network will debut in six states, but only Louisiana, Florida, Maine and Georgia have been named. Katz said the network hopes to expand to all 50 states eventually.
The network’s debut has some students on campus excited about 24-hour football coverage.
Ashley Doucet, a computer engineering sophomore, said she definitely would watch a network that was dedicated entirely to football.
“I like football, especially when it involves teams I like,” Doucet said.
Rico Simien, a biology sophomore, said he does not enjoy football but knows there are enough people who will support the network.
“People here will watch it,” Simien said. “Especially if it broadcasts LSU football.”
Unfortunately for LSU fans, the network will take a more national look at the world of football.
But Katz left the door open to the possibility of broadcasting LSU sports.
“We are a little biased toward the state since we are here,” Katz said. “So we may possibly put LSU programming on, which means fans all over the country who like LSU will be able to see them.”
Jantonio Turner, TFN’s chairman of the board, conceived the idea for an all-football network in 1996.
“This is really a dream come true,” Turner said in a press release. “I could not be more excited about getting on the air and delivering round-the-clock football coverage to America’s fans.”
Among the more prominent names working for TFN are D’Marco Farr, Jerry Glanville and Pat Summerall. Summerall will act as the network’s spokesperson.
TFN’s studios are located in the Louisiana Public Broadcasting Building on Perkins Road, but they will move into a new downtown office in the spring.
Katz said LSU students also will benefit from the network presence in Baton Rouge.
It will allow students a chance to intern as well as gain entry-level positions with a top flight football network, Katz said.
The “soft launch” will air Friday at 5 p.m. until Sunday at 11 p.m. through November.
Local viewers will be able to view TFN only on channel 150, which is broadcast only to Cox digital subscribers.